A man accused of plotting to murder his wife told a jury he "wanted to die in her arms" but would never have hurt her.

Steven Hellewell, of Gorse Close in Tadworth, told Guildford Crown Court that only his son, Kerry Lee, spoke about a plan for the pair of them to kidnap his Russian-born bride so he could kill himself in front of her.

The 50-year-old pleaded not guilty to one count of soliciting to murder and denies claims he was a controlling person who had been violent.

But he admitted stalking his wife, Elena - who he met on the internet and married in 2002 - and turning up at Asda, where she worked, despite police warnings.

He told the court: "I wanted to die in her arms. At no time did I ever want to kill or hurt her and that's God's truth.

"I would never have done anything to harm my wife. I love her.

"I have never threatened her. I only ever grovelled for a piece of that woman's affection."

The court heard Hellewell was afraid his wife would try to claim a forthcoming £300,000 inheritance from his mother after she ended their relationship, saying he "mentioned to Lee" his concerns.

Kerry Lee, his son from a previous relationship, rang the police after allegedly being asked to help kidnap the Russian.

Hellewell was arrested at Tattenham Corner station, in Epsom.

Officers found knives, a club hammer, duct tape and cable ties in his car.

"I asked Lee to get her into the car and take her home so that I could kill myself and die in her arms," he said, giving evidence on Thursday (July 4). "I know it sounds callous and selfish, but there's a lot of difference between that and asking someone to kill someone."

Protect the inheritance

Prosecutor Deepak Kapur said Hellewell asked his son if he had dark clothing and a balaclava, after getting in contact for the first time in four years in December 2012.

He told the court Kerry Lee at first thought it was a joke but called police when he realised the plan was real.

"He wanted his son's help to put her in the back of a car so that Steven Hellewell could kill her," Mr Kapur told the court. "He told his son that he had split up from his wife and that she was after the family inheritance - part of which was destined for Kerry Lee. He wanted his son's help to protect that inheritance."

The prosecution argued that the defendant planned to kill Elena, then himself, or both together by driving off a cliff.

"Even after his arrest, he asked his sister to transfer him £7,000 for 'some bloke' to finish the job," Mr Kapur told jurors. "He also wanted his son 'done over' which goes against his claims that he only wanted to kill himself.

"His sister became so concerned that she herself contacted the police."

Mr Kapur also alleged that Hellewell had often spoken about suicide but never followed through, while Elena described their relationship as stormy, claiming she left repeatedly because of his abuse.